An invention that helps people who can’t speak communicate their needs at the push of a button.

how it works

Dustin’s Words provides people who can’t speak an easy way to send simple text messages over a distance, which helps both the caregiver and the person using the device have a little more independence.

push a button

txt sends over wi-fi

caregiver receives txt

From Prototype for One...

In 2014, Matt built a device to help his non-verbal, autistic brother communicate his wants and needs with their mother for the first time ever. He named the device after his brother–Dustin’s Words.

Dustin uses the device his brother built for him to tell his mother when he’s hungry, when he has a migraine, and even when he wants to get out of the house for a ride on his scooter.

To A Product for Many

We want to transform Dustin’s Words, a prototype designed for one person, into a consumer-level product and platform available to help many. We’re designing, developing, and testing several iterations of Dustin’s Words with other people with non-verbal autism in order to land on a low-cost solution that we can scale for consumer-level consumption.

Along with the physical product, we plan to develop an easy-to- use web tool that caregivers can use to customize their device.

stay informed

Want to help us make the world more accessible?

github

Our code is open source. Download it and make it your own

thingiverse

We’re sharing our 3D sketches so that anyone can print a device of their own.